Desk



Dec. 27, 1932. c u c 7 1,892,415

DESK

Filed July 16, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 4244 P @JW VX6027? eyS Patented Doc. 27, 1932 umrao STATES PATENT OFFICE? I CHARLES 3. ULRICH, OI JAIESTOWN, NEW YORK, ABOIGI'OB IO All mu.

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF J'AIRTOWI, I" YO DESI Application fled July 18, 1928. Serial Io. 378,881.,

This invention relates to improvements in transcribing desks.

Desks of this kind are particularly adapted for use in oflices where a number of operatives are employed in the transcribing of phonographic reproducing machine cylinders or records upon the typewriter.

The objectsv of the present invention are to generally improve the construction of transscribing desks so that such structures may be practicable for use in supporting both the transcribing machines and typewriters; also to provide desks of this character with pockets or compartments for the cylinders or rec- 1 ords whereby such records can be in full view and at the same time be out of the way so as not'to obstruct either the transcribing machine or the t pewriting machines supported on the des and so that the super1n tendent or other person in charge of the operators will be able to tell at a glance when the records have been transcribed; also to construct desks of this kind so that a battery or group of said desks can be connected together-end to end so as to occupy a minimum of space, and which permits the elimination of separate stands, storage baskets and other usual ap liances employed in connection with this wor while nevertheless increasing the efliciency of the machines and the operator s.

Other objects are to construct desks of this character by the use of which typewrltmg machines provided with bases or supports such as shown in my Patent No. 1,810 378, dated June 16, 1931, can be placed on the desk and held from shifting without fastening the a machine to the desk; also to provide a desk of this sort having an improved container or support for phonographic reproducing machines, of the character disclosed in my Patent No. 1,855,782, dated April 26. 1932., whereby difierent makes or sizes of such machines can-be supported thereby.

'Further. objects are to construct 'a desk of 4 this character which can be'readilv assembled into arow or battery of any desired number and supplied with electric current for all of the phonographic reproducing or transcribing machines used therewith from a single electric service outlet or other source of current supply, and whereby the current sup ly wires for the several desks will be concealed and a multiplicity of unsightly loose wires about the floor eliminated; also to provide desks with electric connections such that the 5 number of desks in a group may be increased or reduced at any time by merely coupling or uncoupling the connections of the several desks; also'to construct desks of this sort having. electric connections for the operation of the phonographic reproducing machines such that the current for any individual desk can be cut off without interfering with the current supplied to and the operation of the machines at the other desks; also to mount 12:2 and locate the switch for each desk in a novel manner so that a superintendent or other person can tell at a glance if the switches at the several desks are thrown to ofli' or on positions; and also to improve the construction It and arrangement of transcribing desks in other respects hereinafter set forth and claimed. i

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view, as seen from the it front, of a group of transcribing desks or units constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the group of desks as seen from the rear,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, of the intermediate or shelf unit of my transcribing desk, detached.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the side members or pedestals of the transcrib-- us ing desk.

Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional elevation of with the typewriting machines, and a retainer engaging the same for holding'the machine in 'olace'on the desk.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section of the desk on line 8-8, Fig. 9. I 10 drawer section and one shelf section.

' row side by side. Each of these desks consists of a drawer pedestal A and an intermediate shelf section B, each of the sections B being constructed to support a phonographic reproducing machine D and a typewriting machine E. In arranging the desks in a row as illustrated in Fig. 1, the intermediate sections B are disposed between and connected to a pair of the pedestal sections A so that each operative is provided with ope 11 order to complete the group, the outer end of the left-hand intermediate section is preferably connected to an upright side or finishing panel C. It will be seen from the foregoing that as many desks as desired can be combined in a group, each desk having a single drawer pedestal and a shelf section, and when it is desired to increase the number of desks, the panel C is replaced by a section A, said panel being connected at the end of the enlarged group.

The drawer sections A may be of any suitable construction, being preferably formed of sheet metal and each comprising a flat top a, below which is arranged one or more draw ers an and a sliding shelf a These elements are enclosed by opposite upright side walls a and a back wall a.

All of the intermediate sections B are alike and are also preferably formed of sheet metal, and each includes a horizontal front shelf or support for a typewriter or a like machine E, and a rear shelf or support 11 for a phonographic reproducing or transcribing machine D.

The shelf 10 consists of a flat plate having depending stiffening front and rear flanges 13 and side flanges 14. the latter being provided with holes 16 which register with corresponding holes 17 in the side walls a of the adjacent pedestals A.

The shelf 11 is disposed in rear of and above the shelf 10, and as shown is preferably of less width from side to side than is the shelf 10.

Arranged at each side of and below the plane of the rear shelf 11 is a narrow horizontal shelf 20, the outer side edge of which is extended downwardly in the form of a wall or flange 21, the lower edge of which rests upon the flanged side edge 22 of another shelf 23 extending horizontally from side to side of the section B; These flanges 22 of the shelf 23 are. provided with holes 24 which register with corresponding holes 25 in the pedestal side walls a At the inner side ed e of each of the side' shelves 20 is an integral upwardly extending wall 26 which connects at its upper edge with the side edge of the shelf 11.

Each of the shelves 20 is adapted to provide a support for a group of cylinders or other records (Z for use with the reproducing machine D. and in order to retain these records on the shelf and prevent them from be ing accidentally displaced, a horizontal confining frame 30 is provided which comprises front and rear, laterally extending members 31 and a transverse member 32. The frame 30 mav be formed of a strip or bar of metal, the side bars 31 of which extend lengthwise thru and are confined within the downwardly and inwardly extending front and rear edges 33 of the shelf 11. The end members 32 of the frame are provided with holes 34 registering with corresponding holes 35 in the side walls a of the opposing pedestals A. The records d are thus disposed in pockets or compartments while being in full view.

By the construction described, the shelf 11, the two side shelves 20, together with the intermediate upright connecting portions 21 and26 can all be formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent to the form illustrated, and the frame 30 can be readily secured to this unit.

In order to prevent the transmission of sounds and noises produced in the use of the typewriting machines E from being transmitted' to and interfering with the proper operation of the phonographic reproducing or transcribing machines D, each typewriter used with the present desk is provided with a pair of pads formed of sponge rubber 35 constructed substantially in accordance with the disclosure illustrated in my aforementioned patent application, Serial No. 261,655. These pads 35 are each secured to the under side of a pair of the feet of the typewriter so that the typewriter rests on the said shelf 10 supported by said pads. In the present disclosure means are provided for holding each typewriting machine stationary on the shelf 10 in operative position, and at the same time eliminate fastening devices for the machines.

For this purpose the shelf 10 is provided with a retainer 36 which comprises a sheet metal member of Z shape which extends rearwardly from near the front edge of the shelf 10. The lower flange 37 thereof is detachably secured to the shelf 10 by means of bolts 38 which pass through holes in said flange into one set of a series of registering holes 39 in said shelf. The web of the reits - tainer 37 extends upwardly with the other or always be available for use in upper flange 40 extending laterally therefrom,as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Theretainer 37 is so positioned that one of the pads 35 of the tylpewriter can be engaged beneathflange 40 t ereof with the side of the pad abutting against the ,web of the retainer. Preferably the pad is engaged with the left side of the retainer so that in use the machine will be prevented from shifting laterally when the carriage is moved towards the right when starting a new line.

In order to prevent rearward movement of the typewriting machine in use, the web or other art of the retainer 36 is provided with an ad ustable bolt or stop 41 against which the rear end of the adjacent pad 35 can abut. This stop '41 can be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly in one or another of a series 0 holes 42 in the retainer.

In order to further prevent sion of undesirable noises, sounds and vibrations from the typewriting machine, or from the desk to the phonographic reproducing or transcribing machine used on the desk,

each of these machines is preferably disd in a container or support substantially similar to that shown in my aforementioned Patent No. 1,855,782.

Briefly described,

this container or support comprises a hollow sheet metal box or container 45 having a bottom wall '46 and upright side walls 47 ets 48 secured to the sidewalls 47 is a plural- A Depending from brac ity of loose links 49, the lower ends of which support a swin g open frame 50. This frame consists o the frame 50 and engaging about its side bars 51 is a pair of resilient stra s or supports 53 upon which the transcribmg machine D is placed. In this way the machine is yieldingly su(pp0rted,the straps 53 absorbing the noises an vibrations produced in the desk.

In order to provide a finished appearance I; for the container 45, there is provided a frame or finishing member 55 of angle cross section, the horizontal flanges of which rest on and extend inwardly over the top edges of the side walls of the support 45, while the vertical flanges thereof extend downwardly about said walls. The opening 56 of said frame 55 is such as to extend fairly closely about the machine supported in the container. To accommodate machines of different makes or sizes, a second frame or finishingmember 55a is provided whi h is substantially similar in construction to the frame 55, but in which a different size opening 56 is formed.

In order to insure that both frames will the event that one machine 'is changed for another, that frame which is not required for the particular machine in use is disposed beneath the container- 45 so that the bottom wall 46 of the latter extends within the frame-and rests shelf or storage space in f ment 160 the transmison the horizontal flanges thereof asshown secured to t e shelf 11 to prevent same from shiftin thereon, by suitable means such as a air of olts 60 which pass through registermg holes 61 and 62 in the bottom wall 46 of the container 45 and in the shelf 11 respectively. By this arrangement the spare finishing member is clamped securely in place between the container 45 and the top surface of the shelf 11.

Each of the intermediate or shelf sections B is preferably constructed so as to provide addition to the machine supporting shelves scribed. The shelf 23 comprises the supporting surface of a rearwardly facing compartbelow the shelf 11 and which can be used for the reception of the protecting covers for the transcribing and typewriting machines when the machines are in use. The compartment 160 is closed by an upright wall 161 which extends upwardly from the front edge of the shelf 23 to the corresponding edge of shelf 11. The rear edge 13 of the typewriter shelf 10 preferably abuts against said wall 161.

The upright side edges 162 of the plate 161 are preferably bent rearwardly to form flanges which are provided with holes 63 which register with corresponding holes 64 in the a-d acent side walls a 'of the pedestals Extending downwardly from and secured to the rear edge of the shelf 23 is an upright back wall or panel'65, the lower edge of which engages the rear edge of a horizontal shelf 66, disposed beneath the shelf 23. The shelf 66 is formed with depending side flanges 67 having holes 68 registering with like holes 69 in said adjacent pedestal side walls a. The rear edge of the shelf 66 is preferably extended downwardly to form a stifl'fening wall or part 70, and this part, together with the back wall is rovided with ofiset flanges 71 apertured at 92 to correspond with similar apertures 7 3 in the adjacent pedestals A.

It will be seen from the foregoing that since the various side flanges and parts of the intermediate section B are apertured to correspond with like apertures in the adjacent desk pedestals, said intermediate section B can be readily secured to said pedestals by passing screws or other fastening devices through these holes when brought into registration, thereby firmly and detachablv securing thealternating sections A and B one to another.

In accordance with the this invention each of intermediate or shelf sections B is provided with an individual electric wiring unit 10 and 11 before depletely wired ready for use. The arrangement of the wiring permits as many of the transcribing desks to be assembled as may be required, without the assistance of an electrician, as it is only necessary to couple the wiring unit of one section with that of another by detachable connections forming part of the permanent wiring. This arrangement further permits the elimination of all unsightly loose wires such as are ordinarily required where individual connections have to be made from separate service outlets to the several transcribing machines. In the present arrangement it is only necessary to make connection with a single service outlet at one end of the entire group of desks, whereupon the entire group of desks are provided with'the necessary current for operating the machines. 1

In the construction illustrated (see Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9), intermediate section or unit B is provided with a sectional cable carrying two main conductors or wires a: and 3 The cable 80 extends beneath the shelf 66 and is supported in a sheet metal trough or hanger 81 depending from said shelf. One end of this cable 80 is disconnected when the several sections are in a knocked down form and is provided with a socket 82. The other end of the section is provided with a. plug 83 which is received in one socket or outlet of a. twoway coupling or connection 84. The other outlet 85 of said coupling receives a plug 86 of a cord or cable 87 which extends forwardly and upwardly in front of the shelf 66, and terminates in a doubleoutlet box 88. This outlet box is mounted at one side of the shelf 10 in a recess 89 and is so positioned that the two outlets 90 and 91 thereof are exposed at the top face of said shelf. One of these outlets, such as the outlet 91, receives a plug 92 at one end of the cable or conductor 93 leading to the motor of the transcribing machine D. The other outlet 90 of the switch 88 is provided so that, if desired, the plug 94 of an electric lamp (not shown) may be attached thereto.

Extending forwardly from the outlet box 88 and enclosed in a conduit or passage 95 1s a pair of conductors 96, the forward ends of which are operatively secured to a toggle or other switch 97 disposed in said conduit 95 and which has a lever or other operating member 98 extending therefrom at the top face of the shelf 10.

IVhen there is no cylinder or record on a transcribing machine, it is somewhat d'flicult o tell whether the machine is running or not. However, the provision of the switches 97 overcomes this difiiculty since the conductors 96 are so connected to the current supply that by throwing the lever 98 on any desk in one direct on or another, the current to the machine D on that desk will be turned on or off without affecting the other machines. This arrangement also permits each operative to stop her machine and thus save current when she is through transcribing or when she leaves her desk.

The levers 98 of the switches 97 preferably operate in a forward and rearward direction and each lever is so disposed that its fulcrum or connection with the switch is approximately on the line of the upright front edge or face of the adjacent desk pedestal A, as shown in Fig. 8.

By thus arranging the switch levers 98 of all of the desks of the group, a person can, by standing at one end of the look along the fronts of these instantly whether the current to the individual machines D is on or off by the position of the levers individual desks. For instance, if the levers are in their rearward or off positions, they will extend back of the plane of the front walls of the pedestals A and will not be seen from the positon described, Whereas if a lever is in the on position it will extend forwardly of said plane and will .be readily discernible. Thus a person in charge can check the operatives and see that the current is not wasted without going to the individual desks, unless it is seen that a machine is running when not in use.

In-assembling a group of the desks, the sockets 82 of the sectional cables 80 are coupled to the outer ends or plugs 99 of the connections 84 of the next intermediate section, to the right as seen in the draw ngs. This plug extends through a hole 100 in an adjacent side wall a of a pedestal A, so that when this connection is made, the sockets 82 and connections 84 will engage and clamp aga nst the faces of said wall, and retain the parts against displacement. This procedure holds w thall of the desks, except the righthand desk as seen in Fig. 1, in which case the socket 82 of the cable 80 of that section instead of being secured to a connection 84 is coupled to a conductor leading to a wall outlet or other source of supply (not shown), or if the wall or other outlet is near th s end desk, the cable 80 can be replaced by a short cable 101 having a plug 102 at its outer end, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, thus permitting a direct connection to the outlet to be made. In this way the supply of electric current to all of the transcribing machines for the several desks is obtained from a single outlet. Since each desk is provided with its own individual switch 97, the current to the transcribing machine on each desk can be individually controlled without interfering with the supply of current to and the operation of the machines at the other desks.

Each transcribing machine D is also preferably provided with the usual foot operated row of desks, desks and tell 98 without going to the' machine by a cable 104 for effecting the necessary intermittent stopping and starting of the record on the machine during transcribing. The cables 104 are shown as passing through gasketed holes 106 and 107 in the shelves 10 and wall 162 of thesection B, and the cable 98 is also preferably passed through said hole 106.

I claim:

1. A transcribing desk having a par of spaced side sections, a shelf for a typewriting machine extending between and engaging said sections, a shelf for a phonographic reproducing machine in rear of said first shelf and which is dsposed between and the ends of which terminate short of said side sections, and pockets for phonographic records depending from and extending between the opposite ends of said rear shelf and the adj acent side sections, and an upright transverse partition closing the fronts of said pockets and the space beneath said shelf, and a second shelf extending from the lower end of said partition backwardly beneath said other shelf, whereby a. rearwardly facing compartment is provided beneath said first shelf between said pockets.

2. A transcribing desk having a pair of spaced side sections, a front shelf extending between and engaging said sections, a shelf for a phonographic reproducing machine in rear of and above said first shelf and which is disposed between and the ends of which terminate short of said side sections, pockets for phonographic records extending between the opposite ends of said rear shelf and the adjacent side sections, a rearwardly facing compartment, and a forwardly facing compartment below said rear shelf and said pockets.

3. A detachable section for a transcribing desk comprising a front support, a support for a phonographic reproducing machine in rear of and above said first support, a rest for phonographic records extending laterally relatively to said rear support, a frame projecting from the latter over said rest for confining the records thereon, a shelf below said rear support, a transverse upright wall connecting the front edges of said shelf and said rear support, a second shelf below said other shelf and a transverse upright wall connecting the rear edges of said shelves.

4. In a transcribing desk, means for supporting a phonographic reproducing machine and the records for use therewith in adjacency thereto, including a shelf upon which said machine rests, said shelf having its side ends turned vertically downwards and then horizontally in a lateral direction to form depressed rests upon which said records stand, and horizontal frames projecting laterally from said ends of said machine shelf so as to extend above said rests and about the records attachment to adjacent parts of said desk to secure said supporting means.

5. In a transcribing desk, means for supporting a phonographic reproducing machine and the records for use therewith in adjacency thereto, including a rectangular horizontal frame, a shelf extending across the same with its front and rear edges secured to the front and rear members respectively of said frame, and its ends terminating short of the end members of said frame to provide a space at each end of said frame, and said shelf having said ends turned vertically downwards and thence horizontally sideways beneath said spaces to form rests upon which said records may stand and upon which they are retained by said end portions of said frame, said desk having parallel side members, and the ends of said rests and the end portions of said frame being formed for attachment to said desk side members.

6. A group of transcribing desks comprising a plurality of alternating side sections and shelf sections connected together in a row, each of said side sections including an upright front, and each of said shelf sections having a support for an electrically operated phonographic reproducing machine and having wiring for providing current thereto from a source of supply, a switch on each shelf section for controlling the current to the machine thereon, and said switch being mounted on a part of said section near the front of an adjacent side section and havin an operating member, which, when in on position, projects forwardly beyond said front of said side section so that all switches turned on may be seen by an observer looking along the front of said group of desks from an end of the group, and said operating members being adapted to project rearwardly from the ronts of said side sections so as to be hidden by said side sections from said observer when in off osition.

CHA LES B. ULRICH.

III 

